Magazine stripping machine



Nov. 18, 19.52-

Filed sept: 7, 1948 C( A. COBB MAGAZINE STRIPPING MAICHINE EL KL, nl l, 30 "fJ 9 I 3o z2 3 Sheets-Sheet l /l/ l l Nov. .18, 1952 c. A. COBB 2,618,334

MAGAZINE STRIPPING MACHINE Filed Sept. '7, 1948 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Wiz.

EVM

Nov. 1s, 1952 Filed sept. 7. 194g c. A. -coBB 2,618,334

AMAGAZINEYSTRIFF'ING MACHINE 3 Sheets-Sheet y3 Patented Nov. 18, 1952 UNITED S TATIES RATE/.N T i-F ICE ltflAG-AZINE STRIPPIN G vMACHINE Clifton A. Cobb, University City, Mo.

`'Application l'September 7, 19.218, iSerial`Nof475970 v6 Claims. i1 l 'This-'invention relates to v`ramachine for removingffromfa magazine ror other soit cover publication, :anidentifying 4'portion of 'its cover, and 'for rrendering 'the publication'further -unsaleable ".The customary business arrangement for r'the .distribution of `most periodicals, generally called magazines, 'is -such that `distributors 'thereof vre- :ceve these :publications "on consignment and return "'for credit -unsold :copi-es. 'In-order to avoid @considerable shipping costs, it "is Acommon practic'e `:to -return only:anidentifying portion of the front icover fas .evidence fo'f unsold copies. Additiona'lly, it 'is also vcustomarily required that the publication be further destroyed vsofas to render it dentely unsaleable.

It is the object of this invention to provide a novel machine, which I have desoriptively named .n..magazine stripping 'ma-chine, having means for ldetacliing an identifying portion of a magazine cover, *for picking up, counting, and .stacking -these Idetached portions .or tabs, and -for further destroying "the 'magazine :so as to render 'it fdenitely'unsaleable.

Another object iis Ato fprovide ia 'machine of this character in 'Whichfthe manual effort of fan operator is reduced to -:feeding lmagazines to the :machine .and tripping a single 'operating lever.

,Anotherfobjeet is to `pro-vide :a machine of this kind rhaving cutting 'blades loperable to detach Aa portion of a magazine `cover when it is fed into `position, and `having vacuum -operated pick-up means for removing and stacking "the detached portions or tabs.

.A .further object is 'toprovi-de 'in a *machine of lthis xkind, the combination of a rotary slitting lblade `and a `reciprocating chopping blade variranged perpendicular thereto 'and spaced hori- `zontally therefrom, andguide means, whereby a magazine may be guided 'longitudinally V'of the slitting blade, thereby to slit its 'cover along itsbound edge, to a position in lwhich the chopping blade acts to out transversely 'through .the magazine Lto complete the .detachment of a portion of the cover .and Ito further destroy the magazine.

These :and .other :objects .and advantages will become apparent from the vfollowing Ycomplete description of a preferred form of the invention when .read in connection with the :accompanying fdrawings.

:In "the drawings EFig. i1 fa J.elevation .of Ia `machine :constructed .zacc'o'ldm' ihe present invention;

CII

A2 Fig. '2 is a 'front elevation of the .machine shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a p'lan view .of 'the tmacliine shown inFigs. .land 2;

Fig. 4 lis .an enlarged 'detail view roi the upper 'left corner ofthe view'in Figi with parts-broken faway'tomore 'clearly illustrate;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged sectional View 'taken on -line 5-'5 of Fig. .1;

Fig. 6 :is `an 'enlarged 4sectional 'view of the manually operated `tripping switch `Ataken 'on Eline iii-'6 'of Fig. 3.;

Fig. 7 :is 'a .diagram yof gthe-electrical control Fig. .8 -is an lenlarged viewof the circular slitting 4blade fA-S and the adjacent out limiting disc 58.

Referring Ato 'the drawings more particularly, 'a 'frame is indicated for the machine having yvertical leg-s or members 10, lower horizontal :members il, and lupper horizontal members I2.

'The members l0, vIl and 'l2 may be steel angles `suitablyoonnected as by Welding or riveting. A

top fcounterfor .platen -l-3 is provided, and is attached nto the upper horizontal iframe members y|12 fby any `suitable mean-s. The platen -l'3 'may .be constructed of wood, libre board, or -m-etal. There 'i-san electric motor M, suitably mounted ion vertical supports |5, which are :in turn supported-:by and connected -to 'a horizontal support channel I6 carried by Ithe lower :horizontal iram-e members. :Mounted to the right -of .and lbelow the motor |14 (Fig. 1f),fona pair of hori- .zon-tal sup-port members l1, .is a vacuum pumping device I6, dri-ven by 'themotor |-4,'through a ,belt .19. Mounted between the front and rear vlower horizontal frame members H and supported thereby is a `vacuum tank 20, having a connection 2 `I ,with the vacuum pump.

vA reciprocating shear assembly mounted above .the platen -I'3 and at .the .rear `o-f the machine is Vrgenerally `indicated at 22. The -shear assembly is supported on 'a horizontal member 2-3 which vis lattached at its 'ends -to the upper horizontal members t2, as by angle clips 2-4. The member 1123 is 'cut-out as indicated vat 25 in Fig. 4, .and throughout the length tof this cut-out portion it is provided with a hardened steel .insert 2e. This cut-:out Aportion of 'thesupport member Y23 with the hardened insert forms 'the lower `stationary lblade of the shear. The .platen -|3 is also lcut-out to the Tline 25 as indicated jin the plan view, Fig. I3. A movable shear blade l:21, is mounted on fa Ahorizontal movable 'shear bar 28, which is likewise cut-out to the line 25. The shear bar 28 is provided with four vertically elongated ybosses 29 which together with the bar, have a vertical bore extending therethrough adapted to slidably t four round vertical support standards 39.

The supports 39 are rigidly attached at their lower ends to the support bar 23 as by welding, and at their upper ends support an upper horizontal support bar 3|. Mounted on the upper horizontal bar 3| is a pair of spaced pedestal bearings 32, in which is journalled an eccentric shaft 33. Mounted on the shaft 33 and rigidly attached thereto for rotation therewith is a pair of eccentrics 34, having surrounding collars or followers 35. A pair of connecting rods 36, rigidly attached to the shear bar at Vtheir lower ends and pivotally connected to the eccentric collars 35 at their upper ends by pivot pins 31, transmit vertical motion from the eccentrics to the shear bar 28 upon rotation of the shaft 33. The rods 36 are guided in the upper horizontal support bar 3 I.

Journalled on the left end of the shaft 33 is a fly wheel 38. The ily wheel is driven by the motor I4 through a V-belt 39. A single revolution of the fly wheel is intermittently transmitted to the eccentric shaft through a single trip type clutch mechanism generally indicated at 4l). This clutch mechanism is of the type and construction commonly employed in punch presses,

and its operation is well known and understood. The clutch mechanism includes a trip arm 4l which when moved upward slightly, causes the mechanism to be tripped, thereby locking the fly wheel to the eccentric shaft for their rotation together for one revolution only after which a locking dog is thrown out and the y wheel permitted to again run free. A pressure plate 42, for holding the magazine in position under the shear is provided, and suspended from the shear bar 28 by bolts 43. 'Ihe plate is provided with springs 44, which are biased between the bar 25 and the plate. The plate 42 may be formed upward on its front edge at a suitable angle as indicated to include and feed in dog-eared covers.

Mounted just above the platen and slightly forward of, and near the left end of the reciprocating shear is a circular rotary slitting blade 45. The blade 45 is mounted on one end of a shaft 46, for rotation therewith. The shaft 45 is journalled in a vertically adjustable bearing 41. The bearing 41 is connected by means of a rod 48, to one end of a lever 49. The lever 49 is pivoted at its center on a pivot 54, which is carried by a bracket l.V The other end of the lever 49 is perforated to receive the lower end of an adjusting screw 52. A nut 53 welded to the end of lever 49 threadedly receives the adjustment screw 52. The upper end of the adjustment screw 5| passes through and threadedly engages an internally threaded sleeve 54, which is attached near its upper end, by means Yof a flange and screws as indicated, to the upper surface of the platen I3. The screw 52 is provided with a handle 55, at its upper end. A spring 55 biased between the lower end of the sleeve 54 and the end of lever 49 provides friction thereby to retain the lever and therefore the rotary slitting blade in a vertically adjusted position.

The other end of the shaft 45 carries a pulley 51, keyed thereto. The pulley 51 bears against the `V-belt 39 and is driven thereby. Mounted on the shaft 45 alongside the rotary cutting blade 45 is a circular guard disc or depth of cut gauge 53, just slightly smaller in diameter than the cutting blade for limiting the depth of cut Aby the blade 45. The disc 58 also serves as a guard against serious injury. There is a conventional type counter 59, mounted above the eccentric shaft 33, and supported on a bridge like bracket 65. The counter is provided with an arm 6l and an arm 62, attached to the eccentric shaft 33, for rotation therewith engages the counter arm at each revolution of the eccentric shaft to register one unit upon the counter.

Mounted at the rear of the machine and at the left side thereof is a vacuum operated pick-up device comprising an inverted cup element 43, carried on the outer free end of a horizontally swinging arm 64. The horizontally swinging arm 64 is attached to the upper end of a rotatable Vertical rod 65 for rotation therewith. The vertical rod rotates in a sleeve 66, which is rigidly attached to the frame as by an integral lug 67, and screws 58. The rod is provided with an upper thrust collar 69 which bears against the upper end of the sleeve. The arm 64 is also arranged to swing vertically and is therefor pivotally connected by a horizontal pivot 19, to a bracket 1l, which in turn is riveted to the upper end of the rod 65. Mounted on the upper end of the sleeve 66 is a circular cap member 12, having a cam surface 13, which is engaged by a follower pin 14, on the swinging arm 64. The arrangement is such that as the outer end of the arm 54 swings clockwise horizontally with the rod 65, it will also swing vertically downward due to its own weight on pivot 19 as the pin 14 follows the cam surface 13.

There is a conduit 15 connecting the pick-up cup 63 with the vacuum tank 2). Interposed in this conduit is an electromagnetically operated control Valve 15, having an electromagnet 15a. The Valve 16 is normally closed by gravity or spring pressure and is opened by the electromagnet upon its energization. There is also a flexible section 11, interposed in conduit 15 which is suciently resilient to permit the free movement of the arm 64 and the cup 63 to which one end of the conduit is attached. A removable collecting box 18, for accumulation of the detached tabs is provided and supported at the rear and left side of the machine on a bracket 19, as indicated. Rigidly attached to the lower end of the rod 35 for rotation therewith is an arm 85, adapted to engage and actuate a switching device 8 l, mounted on the frame and which controls the energization of electromagnet 15a. The arrangement is such that as the cup 53 and arm 34 swing clockwise toward the shear, the switch arm 89 moves away from the switch 8|, permitting it to move to a normally closed position in which an energizing circuit for the electromagnet 15a is completed, thereby to open valve 16 and establish communication between the pick-up cup 63 and vacuum tank 28. As the cup and arm swing counterclockwise back to a position over the collecting box 18, the arm 89 again contacts the switch 3l, breaking the circuit, thereby causing the valve 15 to close and cut oil' suction to the cup B3. The cup 53 is provided with a small constant bleeder hole at 83 to permit pressure to rapidly r and extending therefrom. A conduit 85a connecting the diaphragm chamber with the vacuum tank 2t is provided. Interposed in the conduit 85a is an electromagnetically operated valve having a valve chamber 81, and an electromagnet 88. The valve chamber is provided with an inlet 89, an outlet el), and a bleeder 9i. The valve chamber includes a double end valve operated by the electromagnet and adapted to be moved by the electromagnet when energized to a position in which communication between the diaphragm chamber and the vacuum tank is established Vand in which the bleeder 'El is closed. The valve is also arranged to move by gravity or spring pressure upon deenergization of the elec-tromagnet to a position in Awhich communication between the diaphragm chamber and the vacuum tank is cut off and in which the vent Si is opened.

The actuating rod 485 is pivotally connected at its outer end to an arm S2, rigidly attached to for rotation with the rod 65 of the pick-up mechanism. Pivotall-y connected to the actuating rod toward its outer end is a second rod 93, which transmits motion to the trip rod 4I thru a bell crank device gli. A lost motion slot 85, is provided at the connection between rods 85 and 93 for a purpose to be explained hereinafter. A spring 96, biased between the actuator 84 and a transverse pin 91 in the rod 85, returns the mechanism tow-ard the left (Fig. 1), when suction is cu-t off and the diaphragm chamber is bled.

A movable control switch 93, for controlling the electromagnet 88 is provided and mounted on the platen I3. The switch -Si is provided with an extended actuating arm 99, which extends transversely over a guide rail IBB, also mounted on platen I3. The switch 8B is slidably mounted in an elongated case ISI, which is fastened to the surface of the platen and which is provided with elongated slots in ythe top and bottom thereof. There is a pair of flat springs i232, attached to the top of switch -98 which bear against the underside of the top of case IGI, thereby to frictionally hold the switch in an adjusted position. A spring H3211l urges the arm QQ, and the switch '98 to a switch open position. A manually oper- I ated master control switch l3, is provided for control of the motor lli and the electromagnets 16a and 88.

A circuit for the energization of the motor Il! and electromagnetic actuators le and 88 is provided (see Fig. 7). The circuit includes the leads HM and IE5 to the motor it. These leads are connected to a suit-able source of power. Connected across the leads illi and |65 is a circuit for :the energization and control of the electromagnetic actuator TGa, which comprises the leads IBS, It?, the control switch 8i and the lead Hi8. Also connected across the leads lill?, and 1% is a circuit for the energization and control of ythe electromagnetic actuator 88 which comprises the leads Hi8, I Hl, the control switch 538 and the lead i l l. The master control switch H33 is interposed in series with the motor and the above mentioned electromagnetic circuits as indicated.

Operation In operation the master Switch it@ is closed to start the motor ifi, which operates the vacuum pumping device to exhaust the tank 213 land rotates the fly wheel 33. A publication to be processed is placed on the front of the platen I3 with its bound edge lying against the guide rail i60 and wi-th its top toward the shear. rhe control switch S8 has been slidably positionedin the case Iii! for this particular length magazine so that the control arm '99 will be contacted to close the somewhat sensitive switch 98 by the hand of the operator in its natural position on the magazine being fed when -the top or forward edge of the magazine has been moved rearward beyond the reciprocating shear a predetermined amount. As the magazine is moved rearward along the guide rail |00 and before the control arm is contacted, its cover will be slit parallel with and adjacent its bound edge by the rotary blade 45. The depth of the cut by the slitting blade is not critical so long as the cover has been completely severed on that line. Usually several pages below the cover will also be cut. The guard disc 58 however gauges the depth of cut sufficiently close to prevent unnecessary wear of the blade. The adjusting screw 52 is turned lto raise and lower the blade and guard disc to accommodate the thickness of various publications.

When the arm 99 is contacted to close the switch 98, the elec'tromagnet Se is energized, moving its valve to an open position in which the bleeder 9| is closed and in which communication between the diaphragm chamber and the vacuum tank is established. This action causes the diaphragm to move the actuating rods 35 and 93 toward the front of the machine or toward the right in Fig. 1. Rod will therefore, due to its connection with the arm 62 and rod 65, cause this rod to rotate clockwise and the arm S4 carrying the cup 63 to swing toward the shear. As the cup is swung toward the shear, it will also move downward due to the cam surface it and will rest upon the top of the magazine portion extending rearward of the shear blade 21. Also as the cup swings toward the shear blade with the rotation of rod 65, the switch contact arm 8@ will move away from the switch 8l permitting it `to close a circuit for opening the valve 16, whereby suction is communicated to the cup.

During the initial movement of the rod 85, the rod 93 remains motionless until the lost motion 95 is taken up. Further movement of the rod 85 thereafter causes trip rod 4I to be moved upward to trip the clutch mechanism 4U and cause the shear blade to be actuated one stroke. The magazine is thereby cut transversely through and the top cover tab is detached. The purpose of the lost motion 95 is to permit the cup 93 to move into position and to contact and hold the top cover portion before the shear cuts through the magazine. The operators hand is immediately withdrawn from contact with the control switch lever 99 as he moves to present another magazine. The switch 93 thereupon returns to an open position and the electromagnet is deenergized. When this occurs, its valve returns by gravity or spring pressure to a position in which communication between the diaphragm and the vacuum tank is cut off and the bleeder 9| is opened, thereby to permit the rapid return of the actuating rod 85 under pressure of spring 56.

The return of the actuating rod 85 causes the cup 63 to be swung counterclockwise and upward to a position over the collector box 'i8 and the switch actuating arm 80 to contact the switch 8| thus breaking the circuit for the electromagnet 16a and cutting off suction to the cup 53. The bleed hole 83 causes a rapid rise in pressure and the detached tab is dropped into the collector box. At the same time, the rod 93 is returning the trip arm and clutch mechanism to a cocked position. The counting device 59 registers one unit each time the shear falls and therefor each time a tabA is picked up and deposited in the collector box.

animas-a 'Theioregoing :descriptionjis :intended tov be 'ililustrativo, :not limiting, :theiscope :of the inven'- tion fbeing `set iorth in 'the rappended claims.

1. In amagazine stripping .machine in combi'- nation, ia platengmeansfor cutting a :rectangular portion 'frcm 'the cover of ra magazine placed on said platen comprising a pair of vertical Ycutting blades supported 'abovelsaid platen and arranged perpendicular `to each other, means for actuating said cutting blades, and a vacuumpick-up 'device for Jremoving ithe detached `cover portions comprising Va cup-like element supported above said platen, a fsource of' suction, conduit .means `connecting saidcupelement with said source -'of suction, a control valve in said conduit, a vacum operated-actuator andmechanismactuated thereby for movingsaid cup element parallelwith said platen from a remote position '-to a `position above the detached magazine cover portion and then vertically downward linto contact therewith, and for returning said cup element upwardand horizontally to said remote position, Ameans having aninterconnecticn with said pick-up mechanism for causing vthe actuation of at least one of said cutting blades as said mechanism moves saidcup element toward a pick-up position, and means operatively connected with said pick-up mechanism for causing -said control valve to open ias said cup element is'moved toward a pick-up position, and to close as said pick-up mechanism returns said cu-p to said remote position.

2. a magazine vstripping machine in combination, Aa platen, 'ha-ving fa forward and .a rear edge, a guide rail on said vplaten extending rearward from said "forward edge, a ver-tical rotary slitting blade mounted above said platen intermediately-of its iront and rear edges and parallel With and adjacent said guide rail, said 'slitting blade having its lower ledge spaced a predetenmined amount above said platen so that when a magazine is placed-on said platen and moved rearwardly under -sa-id rotary blade, it will be slit -for a Ydepth at least sufficient to sever its cover, a vertically reciprocating chopping blade arranged perpendicular to said slitting blade and spaced rearwardly therefrom, said reciprocating blade being arranged to travel -downward suinciently Vto completely cut through a magazine on said platen, and a device Yfor controlling the operation of said reciprocating blade including an actuating arm extending transversely of said guide rail and arranged to be contacted by the hand of an operat'or when feeding a magazine tow-ard said cutting blades.

V'3. In a machine of the kind described, a table having a vforward and rear edge, a guide member on 'said table extending rearwardly from said forward edge, a ir'st continuously moving 4cutting blade perpendicular to said table and parallel with said guide member for cutting a magazine parallel to its direction of travel as it is moved rearwardly along said guide member, a secondv vertically reciprocating cutting blade supported above said table and spaced rearwardly from said first cutting blade and arranged perpendicular thereto for cutting the magazine transverselyv to its direction of travel- 'as it is moved thereunder, means for driving said first and second cutting blades, said second cutting blade being normally disconnected from said driving means, mechanism for completing a driving connection between said driving means and said second cutting blade when actuated, an actuator for said mechanism, and la controlv device for said actuator mounted on said ftabIe--ad-ljac'ent s'aid guide member and 'having an yoperating Liever extending transversely of said guide member land-in thepath "of the hand Yoran Aoperator when feedinga 'mag'azine rearwardly along said guide member so as Vto be ycontacted therebyfsaid ic'ontrol device being adjustable lonfgitudi-nallyof 'said-guide member.

4.111 a machine of the kind described, means `forfcutting a-magazine for' the like along two perpendicular intersecting llines thereby to detach ra rectangular portion 'of the 'top lsheet or cover therefrom, said cutting means including a rec'iproeatingV blade, rdrivi'n'l'g means for 'the actuation of fsaid cutting means, a vacuum pumping device 1d ven by 'said 4driving vmeans for supplying a "source o'f vacuum, fa vcollector box Vremote fromsaidfcnttingmeansforiaccumulating the de- 'taci-redl cover "portions, a vacuum pick-'up device 'for pick-iln'g up lthe detached cover portions 'and for depositi-ng them in said 'collector box includ'- in'g aisuctio'n cup element in communication with said source c'f vacum, a vacuum operated actu- 'at`0`r hai/'Ting communication With Said 'SOUI'Ce Of vacuum formoving said cup element 'from a position Io'i'lerfsaid collector box to a position in which it isin lcontact with the magazine cover portion to be detached and `for returning it t-o its Position over lsaifd collector box, control means Vrendered operative to cut off communication between said cup element and said 'source of vacuum as said cup 'element is moved to its position over said collector box and to reopen such communication as said ci-ip 'element is moved toward said cutting means, -a counting device having an actuating lever, and means movable withl said reciprocating blade lfor 'engaging said actuating lever once each stroke therebytore'gi'ster one unit.

5. In 'a rnachi'ne of the kind described, 'a platen, mea-ns 'for cutting a magazine or the like when place `on said platen along two perpendicular intersecting lines thereby to detach a rectangular portion of lthe top sheet or cover therefrom, said cutting 'means being constructed'and arranged to cut 'through 'the magazine 'along at least one oi said lines, driving means for the actuation 'of said cutting means, a vacuum pumping device driven by said driving means for providing a source of vacuum, a collector box remote from said cutting means, a vacuum pick-up device for picking up the detached 'cover portior'is` and for depositing them in said collector box Vincluding a suction cup element in communication with said source of vacuum, a 'vacuum operated actuator for moving said vcup element from a position over said collector box to a position in which it is in contact with thesurface of the magazine cover portion to be detached and for returning' it to its posi-tion overg'said collector box, and control means rendered operative to cut off communication between said cup element and said source of vacuu'm as said cup element is moved to its position over said collector box 'and to reopen such communication as said cup element is moved toward said cutting means.

6. In a magazine stripping machine for detaching removing and counting rectangular portions of one cover of a magazine, the combination of a circular rotary slitting blade, a reciprocating chopping blade arranged perpendicular to said slitting blade, a vacuum pick-up device, a counting device, means for driving said cutting blades, said reciprocating chopping blade being normally disconnected -from said driving means, a clutch mechanism 'for completing a driving connection between said driving mean-s and said choppingv 9 blade, an actuator for simultaneously effecting the operation of said clutch mechanism and said vacuum pick-up device, and manually operated control means for controlling the operation of said actuator.

CLIFTON A. COBB.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date Kast Dec. 5, 1933 Pachter Dec. 4, 1934 Wikle May 16, 1939 Black July 11, 1939 

